Improve the management of CWD-affected wild cervid populations

Activities to be performed include quantify stress hormone (cortisol) concentrations during deer capture. Researchers need to capture deer for monitoring and understanding life $203,326 3 history traits such as survival, dispersal, and movements for effective management strategies. We have archived serum from white-tailed deer during 2 years of capture in an area with high prevalence CWD and can use to measure cortisol concentrations; quantify the effects of CWD on stress hormone concentrations in hair from white-tailed deer harvested during hunting season. This will allow for cortisol concentrations over the time of hair growth and can be compared to CWD status since all harvested deer will be tested.; provide recommendations for mitigating capture-induced and natural stressors on white-tailed deer in a high prevalence CWD area. Deer watching and hunting of white-tailed deer contribute significantly to local economies. Deer provide much-needed revenue for conservation of all wildlife through hunter license fees and excise tax on firearms and ammunition. This funding is also used to protect and maintain habitat necessary for the sustainability of non-game, threatened, and endangered species. Tennessee wildlife resources agency has established maximum deer harvest in the affected counties through liberal hunting opportunities. However, much remains unknown about the effects of CWD on the stress response and possible effects on movement and survival. State and private deer managers are currently targeting surveillance of CWD based on risk factors and currently known distribution of the disease. They need to base management on expected movements and survival which must be determined for each area. However, CWD may be affecting the deer's stress response to capture which would bias our understanding. Science-based recommendations can be improved with a more complete understanding of life history traits of deer with and without CWD and their response to stress. This information will be helpful for tennessee and beyond. There is no sub award